Iceless refrigerator



Sept. 17, 1929. A. RIVARD 1,728,364

ICELESS REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. .20, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet l illlllll-l//v VEN 70 A/be/"f 1 ym 0 'varc/ Af/onvey Sept. 17, 1929. A. RIVARD1,728,364.

ICELESS REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 20, 1927 25 Sheets-Sheet 2 2a as ,J

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A/forney Sept. 17, 1929. A. RIVARD ICELESS REFRIGERATOR Filed Sept. 20,1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Sept. 17, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE ALBERT RIVARD, or orrnwa-onranro, cAmmA, AssIGNoR orrnmrr-snvrmomrrmrr rnn CENT r GASTON nrvlmn AND TWENTY-FIVE ran 0mm "10 ROMAIN'LANTI-IIER, BOTH 0F OTTAWA, CANADA ICELESS REFRIGERATOR Applicationfiled September This present invention relates to improvements in aniceless refrigerator andappertains particularly to one adapted fordomestic use and employing chemical agentsas refrigerants.

An object is to provide a refrigerator that is complete in itself anddependent for operation on no extraneous connections.

A further object is to provide a refrigerator that can be cheaplymanufactured and whose maintenance is reasonable.

A still further object isthe provision of a device of this naturecharacterized by structural simplicity, durability and efficiency andthereby rendered commercially desirable.

To the accomplishment of these and re lated objects, as shall becomeapparent as the description proceeds, my invention resides in theconstruction, combination and arrangement ofparts as shall behereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and ointed out in the claims hereunto appended? I The'inventionwill be best understood and can be more clearly described when referenceis had to the drawings forminga part of this disclosure, wherein likecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective elevation of my improvedrefrigerator with the doors and top and one ofthe side curtains removedtherefrom; v

Figure 2 is a vertical sectionthereof;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section as taken on theline 33 of Figure 2 andI Figure "4 is a detail section of one of the container cover closures.

The refrigerator is here shown astassuming the outward form of theconventional ice boxhaving a containerbodyfi supported off the groundbythe corner post legs 'T. The side walls 8 and back 9 of thebody 6,aswell asthat part ofthe front of thevbody not occupied by the doors 10,areuniquein that they are formedof multiple layers of material; fromfthe outside in 1 there is; first a double'layer of wood 11 and 12spaced from each other by a packing of caulking 13, then 20, 1927.Seria1.No.J220,760. v. i

a sheeting of tin, galvanized ironor enamel ware 14, an .air. space 15and an inner lining of sheet metal material 16. I Thetop 17 and bottom18 ofthe body or cabinet are similarly formed, the former ,being hingedto 1) andhavesmallpockets 25 attheir bases'from, which the drain pi es.26 extend that con-- tinue downwardly rom the base .25 of the topcontainer 24=to the central container,

from the base thereofto the lowermost coni tainer andfrom the. bottomthereof to empty, into a .removably drip pan-'27 immediately above whichthe pipe26 is .terminally prd vided .with a trap 28. Immediately belowthetop two containers 24 an easilyaccessible stop-cock 29 is tapped inthe drain pipe '26 that is positioned centrally close up against theback of the body 6.

Each container 24 has a perforated hinged .falsecover 30 with a secondcover 31 immediately underlying that hinges in a supporting. cradlehousing 32 ,perforateda round its depending edges. tLow su'nk hingesanda pocketed handle 34 inutheztop of the surface covers .30 enable thelower two containers .tobe used as supporting shelves in therefrigerator unimpairedin their usefulness by the presence'of thecovers. I I i The top.-17 and the front door closures 1O are-constructedsimilar to the "sides of the cabinet with .a double layer of wood withcaulking therebetween, '*a tin sheeting, an air space and an interiorfinishing of tin with theperipheral edges provided with three steps asat 35 to match and close tightly on Thesetraysor containers 24 slopetoward theaback centre sides of the openings to effectively seal thesame. WVhen the top 17 is open access is afforded to the air spaces 15in the sides and back to allow of the removal of the curtains 20 so thatthey may be soaked in water at convenient intervals. Communicationbetween the air spaces or pockets 15 in which the saturated curtains arependent and the refrigerator cabinet interior is through amultiplicity'of small'perforations 36 in the sides or back while like'open ing' 37 through thein; ner wall 16 into the bottom container 2&'provides for drainage from this curtain housing encircling air space orpocket.

The several containers'2t are each filled with a mixture 38 of sodiumnitrate (NaNO commonly calledChilean salt'petre, fine gravel and water;the solids being always preventedfrom running out the drain pipes 26 byfine wire screens 39 in the pipe open ings While the water or saturatedsolution can be tapped off whenever desired. This mixture is therefrigerant for as the salt dissolves,

the solution lowersin temperature and theair in the cabinet compartmentsbecomes chilled, having contact with the solution in the containersthrough the perforations in the false covers'30 and cradle'housing 32though this construction of covers prevents foreign matter falling intothe solution.

This cooling of the air adjacent the containers sets up 'a circulationor draught that appears to rise in the space where the curtains hang inthe walls, enteringby the openings near the bottom of the compartmentsand returning through the openings near the top. This circulation causessome evaporation of moisture from the curtains and this tends to coolthe rising current of air'even before itenters the compartments at thetop.

- and the loss of moisture is easily replenished by removal ofthe'canvas curtains that are immersed in water'and replaced through theopen top. The moist gravel whose purpose is to hold the sodium salt openand exposed to the moisture, aids in maintaining an even temperature.

lVire screen trays 40 are adjustably supported on angle brackets 41 andas is quite obvious the'number and arrangement of doors may vary and atellatale thermometer be provided. I f

As theconstruction of the device has thus been described in detail,brief reference is now had to its useand mode of 'operation: Thisiceless refrigerator 'wh'ich is of simple construction may beein'ployedfor various surfaces to which such a device .is adapted and it isapparent that when the containers 2% are filled with the mixture ofsodium nitrate commonly called Chilean saltpetre, fine gravel and water,the containers will be kept cool and thus cause a lowering oftemperature within the refrigerator cas ing. The curtains 20 maybesoaked in water at continued intervals to keep the same moist and as theair circulating through the air spaces 15 within which the curtains 20are suspended and into the interior of the refrigerator body above andbelow the central container 24, it is chilled and thus lowered intemperature to preserve food and the like resting on the wire screentrays 40, through which the chilled air also may circulate freely. T hecentral and lower containers 2 1 may also have their upper facesemployed as shelves upon which to rest articles to be kept in therefrigerator.

With the necessary alterations this system of refrigeration maybesuccessfully employed in connection with meat packing establishments,stores, hotels and the like so that I do not expect to confine myself tothe preciseembodiment of the invention hereinbefore set forth.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, it will be manifest that an iceless refrigerator is providedthat will fulfil all the necessary requirements of such a device, but asmany changes could be made in the above description and many apparentlywidely different embodiments of my invention constructed within thescope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or scopethereof, it is intended that all matters contained in the saidaccompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limited sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is V 1. A refrigerator comprising a cabinetwith heat insulating walls, spaced covered trays superimposing oneanother, drain pipes connecting said trays, amixture of sodium nitrate(NaNO and gravel in said trays, moisture diffusing means provided insaid cabinet and means for permitting ingress of said moisture to theinterior of said trays.

2. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet with heat insulating walls,spaced covered trays superimposing one another, perforated hinge coversin the tops thereof, drain pipes connectingSaid trays, a mixture ofsodium nitrate (NaNO and gravel in said trays and wet curtains hungabout said cabinet so that the moisture therefrom may be deposited onsaid sodium nitrate.

3. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet with heat insulating walls,spaced covered trays superimposing one another, drain pipes connectingsaid trays, fine wire screens protecting the entrances to said drainpipes, stop-cocks in said drain pipes, a mixture of Chile saltpetre(NaNO and fine gravel in said covered trays, and means for moisteningsaid mixture to cause the chilling thereof.

4. A refrigerator comprising a chamber, a tray supported therein adaptedto contain a chemical refrigerant, a ventilated top hinged thereon, astop-cock controlled drain pipe from said tray and a screen in the upperend of said pipe.

5. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet with heat insulating sides,spaced covered trays superimposing one another, drain pipes connectingsaid trays, a mixture of salt and gravel in said trays, moisturediffusing means provided in said cabinet and means for permittingingress of said moisture to the interior of said trays, and circulationof air in said cabinet.

6. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet with heat insulating sides,spaced covered trays superimposing one another, perforated hinge coversin the tops thereof, drain pipes connecting said trays, a refrigerantmixture of salt and gravel in said trays and wet curtains hung aboutsaid cabinet so that the moisture therefrom may be evaporated by thecirculation of air set up by the lowered temperature.

7. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet with heat insulating sides,spaced covered trays adapted to receive a chemical refrigerantsuperimposing one another, drain pipes connecting said trays, fine wirescreens protecting the entrances to said drain pipes, stopcocks in saiddrain pipes, said trays having openings therethrough formingcommunication with the interior of said cabinet.

8. A refrigerator comprising a cabinet with heat insulating sides,spaced curved trays superimposing one another, said trays having fiattops and serving as horizontal partitions in the top, bottom andintermediate portions of said cabinet, said trays draining toward thecentre and back, drain pipes connecting said superimposed trays anddisposed against the back wall of the cabinet, wire screens protectingthe entrance to said drain pipes, stop-cocks controlling the flowtherethrough, overlying covers providing aocess to said trays, the uppercover being perforated and spaced above the inner and solid cover whosecradle suspending means is perforated to permit circulation of air intothe interior of said trays, a solution of Chile saltpetre (NaNO graveland water, in said ventilated trays and wet curtains hung in saidcabinet so that the circulation of air set up by the lower temperatureabout said trays may cause evaporation of the moisture therefrom.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

ALBERT RIVARD.

